MANGA REVIEW | "Marriage Toxin" - Volume Seven
One of these days, Gero is going to find the right woman. Of course, that’s the whole point of Marriage Toxin, the tale of a Poison Master looking to get hitched. There have been a good number of candidates, but there hasn’t been someone that I felt has been a woman who could match his tenacity. That is, until Volume Seven of Marriage Toxin, where we meet quite possibly his perfect match.
However, before she arrives, there’s the matter of Gero’s cousin Teruaki. Kinosaki has been kidnapped, and Gero must face off against Teruaki, who wants to stop his quest to get married. But as we quickly see, Poison Master versus Poison Master won’t be a simple fight, as the cousins throw everything and the kitchen sink at one another. Thankfully, Gero’s got a much better reason to live than Teruaki, as his desire for love overshadows the cousin’s bloodlust.
It goes to great lengths to demonstrate the tenacity of the Poison Masters. We all know that Gero is a powerful guy, but the rest of the clan aren’t chumps in the slightest. Seeing both Gero and Teruaki fight to the bitter end is exciting to watch, as we learn just how strong these two are. If this is how Gero is with one Poison Master, imagine what would happen if the other members decided to try to take him out. (Hopefully, we won’t see that until we get closer to the end of the story.)
After the fight, Gero and Kinosaki continue the search for Mrs. Poison Master. The next candidate literally comes crashing in, in the form of protector Chinatsu. She’s tasked to protect Erina, the daughter of a dead mob boss who’s being targeted by rival families. Chinatsu may suck at driving, but she’s got a surprising amount of gas in her own tank. All she needs is some police crime tape, and enough room to show off her aerobics.
Not only is Chinatsu a top bride candidate in Marriage Toxin, she also manages to overshadow Gero in this volume. Her skills are a wonder to watch, as she deals with the Wind Master and his cronies with plenty of style. There are even times where Gero looks smitten by Chinatsu’s fighting techniques, making her the kind of woman that leaves the Poison Master at a loss for words. However, he can't put a ring on it just yet; the job needs to get done first.
Erina is the one who needs protection the most, due to her small frame and, well, being a freaking kid. How Gero, Chinatsu, and even Kinosaki aid on the quest is filled with perfect and imperfect driving, outside-the-box kung fu, and a much-needed shopping day. But it's the crescendo of the mission where Marriage Toxin delivers some impressive sights. (For starters, how about watching the Wind Master crash a car through a private jet and perfectly swiping Erina in one fell swoop?)
All of it leads to the big battle. At first, Chinatsu takes charge, with a little help from one of Gero's syringes. Not even thugs with buzzsaw bicycles can put up with the impressive techniques Chinatsu delivers. Once Gero tags in, we are reminded why the Poison Master is the star of the show. Oh, and Kinosaki even helps a bit, in a way that'll make anyone reading laugh hysterically.
We may not be anywhere closer to getting Gero down the aisle, but Volume Seven of Marriage Toxin does give us a top bride contender. Chinatsu is the kind of lady any Shonen Jump protagonist would dream of marrying, so why shouldn't she be the #1 pick for the Poison Master? Oh, and did I mention that she also has a hell of a sweet tooth too? For Christ's sake, Gero, put a ring on that before you lose the chance!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
